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Fornelli, a barely visible dot on the map of Italy, lies in the heart of Molise, within the province of Isernia, has today around 1,800 inhabitants and some thirty businesses that accept payments in Bitcoin. It also boasts a new statue: that of Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of the cryptocurrency.
This village, still lined with cobbled streets and guided by the sound of church bells, has chosen to become a global beacon for dreamers of financial freedom. In Piazza Umberto I, it has unveiled a faceless statue that captures the spirit of Bitcoin’s mysterious founder.
A member of the National Association of Oil Cities and, for some years now, also recognised as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy”, Fornelli hosts Italy’s first monument to Bitcoin’s founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, aiming to position itself as the “city of bitcoins”. It all began as an idea from crypto-artist Mattia Pannoni, a true Fornelli native. While Rovereto (Trento) has also embraced Bitcoin technology, Fornelli has the highest adoption rate in the world relative to its population.
The monument, unveiled just a week ago, is a stainless steel statue installed on a scenic viewpoint. Seen from the front, it appears to vanish—an intentional effect by its creator. Tourists from Spain and Switzerland have already made their way to the hills of Molise to visit this village and pay using Bitcoin.
Entirely funded by the local government, the statue symbolises Fornelli’s commitment to innovation and new technologies, according to local media reports. “It’s essential to consider the ideas of our youth,” said Mayor Giovanni Tedeschi, emphasising Fornelli’s vision as a destination for travellers and digital nomads who live and transact with Bitcoin.
Fornelli’s statue joins a growing list of global tributes to Nakamoto. Just last week, Tokyo became the fourth city to honour Bitcoin’s creator, unveiling a statue during the opening of Bitcoin Base, a new hub for the crypto community in the Japanese capital.
The story of the statues
The first Satoshi Nakamoto statue was unveiled in 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. Its reflective bronze face allows viewers to see themselves in it—symbolising that anyone can embody the Bitcoin spirit.
The second, installed in 2024 in Lugano, Switzerland, depicts a hooded figure with a laptop, crafted from metal with linework that evokes Nakamoto’s ghostly presence within Bitcoin’s code.
The third was unveiled in February 2025 in El Salvador during the Plan ₿ Forum conference. Created by Satoshi Gallery and initially displayed at the Museum of Art of El Salvador (MARTE) in San Salvador, the statue shows a hacker seated with a laptop, designed with lines suggesting both disappearance and permanence.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Italy has warned that the rise of cryptocurrencies poses risks for investors and financial stability. In a recent report, it identified Bitcoin and other digital assets as emerging risk factors, citing concerns for both investors and the wider financial system.
In its Financial Stability Report of April 2025, the Bank of Italy highlighted the volatility of cryptocurrencies and their increasing integration into the broader economy, with particular attention to stablecoins and the exposure of non-financial companies to digital assets.
The report came just days after Giancarlo Giorgetti, Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance, warned against underestimating the appeal of US dollar stablecoins. According to Giorgetti, American policies on stablecoins pose a greater threat than President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
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